The 26th Otley Chevin Fell Race, sponsored by Clearview Windows and Ashton House Oak and Pine Furniture will be held at 7.30pm on Wednesday, June 1, from the Market Square.

When an event has the pedigree of the Chevin Race it is fascinating to look back at the past winners. Greg Hull has won eight times which is a feat in itself but what is more interesting is that he won his first race in 1988 and his latest victory was in 2004, 16 years later.

No one can compare with this record in the ladies race although Carol Haigh/Greenwood won four times over an 11 year period.

The race generally attracts around 100 runners and local sponsorship means that all the entry fee (£3) will be returned in prizes and everyone will go home with something for their efforts even if only a can of beer.

The cup for the best Pub Team donated by the Red Lion will be on offer together with the usual extensive lists of prizes for those who take things more seriously.

The list of prize winners includes previous English Fell Running Champions Ian Holmes, Gary Devine, Sarah Rowell and Carol Greenwood so if the thought of your name being placed alongside these for just 17 minutes of effort inspires you then contact: Neil Clayton on 0113 229 0924 or log onto www.skyrac.org.uk

Ilkley Harriers

It has been a busy week of racing for Ilkley Harriers. It started on Tuesday with the first race in this year's Harrogate Road League, staged by the Harriers from Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club. A record 76 Harriers raced, in a record field of 292.

Results are too numerous to list but Harriers were third team, have the leading ladies amd lady vets teams, and are third in the Elite competition too - a pretty good start to the League.

The two Bernies (Gibbons and Connors) led a good number of volunteers to help provide a great evening's racing.

The following night several Harriers raced again in the John Carr 5k race series at Esholt. Results were:

87, John Atkinson 18.12; 89, Dave Jepson 18.18; 148, Peter Shields 19.37; 163, George Stevens 20.06; 179, Keith Wood 20.25; 189, David Brown 20.39; 217, Andy Wolfenden 21.29; 229, Ben Stevens 21.49; 264, Victoria Stevens 23.00; and 272, Peter Bedwell 23.18

One of the more distant Harriers is Andrea Priestley, a former fell champion, now living in Scotland: handy for Saturday's Ben Lomond Fell Race where she was 23rd overall and second lady in 81:23.

There was a host of races on Sunday. Helena Deeney ran in the Fountains Abbey 10k Trail and was third lady vet in a time of 49:17.

Amanda Parnaby raced in the King James Knaresborough 10k, finishing in 61 minutes. Peter Bedwell ran 1.48.06 in the Blubell Ten Trail Race.

In the Tadcaster Triathlon (500m swim, 14km weather-lashed bike and 8km of mainly off-road riverbank run) Andy Wiggans came in 45th out of 131 finishers in a total time of 1hr 12 mins and 32 seconds.

Diane Kitchen was 66th in 1hr 17mins and 31seconds - and a highly creditable fourth Vet female.

Ilkley's top ladies' fell team were at the Buttermere Sailbeck Horseshoe Fell Race, 9.4 miles with 4650ft of climb and an English Fell Championships counter.

Again they were first team, with:

133, Helen Sedgwick 1:50:48 7th lady; 146, Emma Barclay 1:52:22 10th lady; 158, Nicola Jaquiery 1:53:46 12th lady; 209, Sally Malir 2:02:09 5th LV40; 240, Alison Eagle 2:06:48; 268, Jo Foster 2:11:35; 274, Alison Weston 2:14:21; and 308, Rachael Gooch 2:20:35

For the men, Ilkley had 127th Jim Ryder 1:49:47; 185, Jamie Hutchinson 1:57:34; and 232, Ken Jaquiery 2:05:40.

And what do you do if that's not tough enough? How about the Fred Whitton cycle race which is110 miles long and takes in all the Lakeland Passes (and a few other nasty climbs), starting and finishing in Coniston. Heather Dawe was round in 7h25 (1st lady), Jason Hemsley 7h50 and Stefan Macina just over eight hours.

Ilkley Harriers is a friendly club, training from Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club every Tuesday at 7pm. Come and run in one of their friendly groups. See their web site www.ilkleyharriers.org.uk for more information.